Overvarnish unit for continuous-motion decorating apparatus

ABSTRACT

A continuous-motion decorating machine for cylindrical containers is provided with a removable and replaceable overvarnish unit subassembly. The overvarnish unit includes control and transfer metering rolls which supply a film of varnish to an applicator roll. The latter, in turn, applies the varnish as a protective coating over decorations on the outside surface of spindle-mounted cylindrical containers. Paralleling the axes for the applicator roll and spindle is accomplished by tilting the sub-frame of the overvarnish unit relative to the main frame of the machine. Each paralleling and pressure or gap adjustment at the nips between the respective rolls, as well as at the nip between the applicator roll and container being decorated, is accomplished without upsetting adjustments at the other nips.

United States Patent Skrypek et al.

[111 3,855,967 1 Dec. 24,1974

[ OVERVARNISH UNIT FOR CONTINUOUS-MOTION DECORATING APPARATUS [75] Inventors: John P. Skrypek, Saddle Brook;

Edward J. Whelan, Hasbrouck Heights, both of NJ.

[73] Assignee: Sun Chemical Corporation, New

York, NY.

[22] Filed: Mar. 21, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 343,454

[52] US. Cl 118/230, 118/232, 118/262 [51] Int. Cl. B05c l/02 [58] Field of Search 118/262, 239, 230, 232,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,116,467 5/1938 Secoy 101/38 R X 2,293,691 8/1942 Harrigan 118/262 X 2,749,878 6/1956 Hagen..... 118/262 X 2,775,953 l/1957 McFall 118/262 X 3,616,778 11/1971 Sirvet et al 118/262 Primary ExaminerJohn P. McIntosh Attorney, Agent, or Firm -Cynthia Berlow [57] ABSTRACT A continuous-motion decorating machine for cylindrical containers is provided with a removable and replaceable over-varnish unit subassembly. The overvar tween the respective rolls, as well as at the nip between the applicator roll and container being decorated, is accomplished without upsetting adjustments at the other nips.

9 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures FATENTEU [1&2241974 sum 1 or 3 PATEHTED BECZ 41974 sum u or g PATENTED DEC 2 41974 SHEET 7 0F 3 PATENTED DEC 24 I974 SHEET 8 [if OVERVARNISH UNIT FOR CONTINUOUS-MOTION DECORATING APPARATUS V This invention relates to high-speed decorating apparatus in general and more particularly relates to an apparatus of this type having a removable and replaceable overvarnish unit subassembly.

US. Pat. No. 3,616,778, issued Nov. 2, 1971, to E. Sirvet et al., for an Overvarnish Assembly For Continuous Can Printing Machines, describes an overvarnish assembly having elements that are independently secured to the main frame of the machine, so that servicing of any of these elements requires the entire decorating machine to be taken out of service until the defective overvarnish unit element is replaced or repaired. This down-time is often excessive because replacement parts may not be readily available, the damaged part may-not be readily accessible, and the overvarnish unit must be readjusted after the damaged part is replaced.

In accordance with the instant invention, an overvarnish unit is constructed as a subassembly which may readily be removed and replaced in the event a malfunction develops. All adjustments at the metering and transfer nips may take place before mounting the subassembly, and the only adjustments required before mounting of the subassembly are those at the applicator nip between the applicator roll and container being decorated. Paralleling at the applicator nip is accomplished by tilting the entire overvarnish unit subassembly relative to the main frame, and the pressure setting is a simple handwheel controlled adjustment that does not materially affect settings at the metering and transfer nips. I

Paralleling of the metering rolls with respect to the applicator roll is accomplished by adjusting eccentrics mounted on only one end of each metering roll shaft. By making these adjustments in sequence, previously made adjustments are not upset by subsequent adjustments. The making of spacing and pressure adjustments at the metering and transfer nips respectively does not upset previously made adjustments.

Accordingly, a primary object of the instant invention is to provide container-decorating apparatus having a removable, replaceable, and interchangeable overvarnish unit subassembly.

Another object is to provide an overvarnish unit of this type having simplified setup mechanisms.

Still another object is to provide an overvarnish unit subassembly that is tilted in order to parallel the applicator roll axis to the axis of the spindle carrying the cylindrical container being varnished.

A further object is to provide an overvarnish unit subassembly in which paralleling of the metering rolls with the applicator roll is accomplished by adjusting single eccentrics on only one end of each of these rolls.

These objects as well as other objects of this invention will become readily apparent after reading the following description of the accompanying drawings in which:

F IG. 1 is a front elevation of a continuous-motion can decorator including an overvarnish unit subassembly constructed in accordance with teachings of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a simplified front elevation of the overvarnish unit.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the varnish rollers looking in the direction of arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the overvarnish unit looking in the direction of arrows 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a more detailed front elevation of the overvarnish unit.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation showing the outlines of the principal frame elements of the overvarnish unit.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-section taken through line 7-7 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of arrows FIG. 8 is a cross-section taken through line 8-8 of FIG. 5 looking in the'direction of arrows 8-8.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view, partly sectioned, of the overvarnish unit.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the sub-base for the overvarnish unit showing the handwheel adjusting stations mounted thereto.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross-section taken through line 11-11 of FIG. 10, looking in the direction of arrows 11-11 and showing one of the clamping means for the overvarnish unit.

FIG. 12 is a front elevation of a clamp member looking in the direction of arrows 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary cross-section taken through line 13-13 of FIG. 10 looking in the direction of arrows 13-13 and illustrating the construction of one of the adjusting screws for tilting the overvarnish unit.

Now referring to the figures. The cylindrical container-decorating apparatus of FIG. 1 is of a type described in our copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 198,618, filed Nov. 15, 1971, now US. Pat. No. 3,766,851 for a Continuous Can Printer. Briefly, the apparatus of FIG. 1 includes in-feed conveyor 15 which receives undecorated cans 16 from a supply (not shown) and places them on cradles 17 located at the periphery of cradle wheel 18 that is continuously rotated by'being keyed to horizontal shaft 19. Horizontal spindles or mandrels 20 are also mounted to wheel 18, with each spindle 20 being in angular alignment with an individual cradle 17, but being axially displaced therefrom. Undecorated cans 16 are transferred from cradle 17 to spindles 20, and while mounted to spindles 20 cans 16 are decorated by being brought into engagement with continuously rotating image-transfer mat or blanket 21 of the multicolor printing press indicated generally by reference numeral 22. Thereafter, and while still mounted to spindles 20, decorated cans 16 have a protective film of varnish applied thereto by engagement with the periphery of applicator roll 33 in the overvarnish unit indicated generally by reference numeral 25.

Cans 16, with decorations and protective coatings thereon, are transferred from spindles 20 to suction cups (not shown) mounted to transfer wheel 27 near the periphery thereof. The latter is continuously rotated about shaft 28 as a center. Cans 16, carried by transfer wheel 27, are then deposited on generally horizontal pins 29 carried by chain-type output conveyor 30 which carries cans 16 through a curing oven (not shown).

As will hereinafter be seen, overvarnish subassembly 25 is adjustably and removably mounted to main frame plate 23 being supported by upper surface 24 thereof. Subassembly 25 includes steel control and transfer metering rolls 31, 32 respectively, mounted adjacent each other, so as to form metering nip 34 therebetween fed with varnish from a drum (not shown). Transfer roll 32 is positioned adjacent applicator roll 33 to form transfer nip 35 therebetween. The gap or pressure at metering nip 34 is set by turning handwheel 44 keyed to shaft 45, so that the desired thickness of varnish film is formed on the periphery of transfer roll 32. At transfer nip 35 this film of varnish is transferred from roll 32 to applicator roll 33 and is in turn transferred at applicator nip 38 to the outside of decorated can 16. Sleeve 64 (FIG. 7) on applicator roll 33 is constructed of rubber or of a resilient synthetic material, such as polyurethane. The gap or pressure setting at applicator nip 38 is adjusted by turning handwheel 39 keyed to shaft 41 through a mechanism, to be hereinafter described, which moves cylindrical axis 42 of roll 33 in the direction indicated by the double-headed arrow 43. The pressure or gap setting at transfer hip 35 is adjusted by turning handwheel 36 keyed to shaft 37 to pivot carrier 46 (FIG. 6) about stationary shaft 47 as a center. Carrier 46 supports axes 48, 49 for metering rolls 31, 32, respectively, so that pivoting of carrier 46 causes transfer roll 32 to move along a path indicated generally by double-headed arrow 51 (FIG. 2).

Parallel alignment between the axes of applicator roll 33 and spindle 20 at the varnish application region where can 16 is in engagement with applicator roll 33 is established by tilting subassembly 25 with respect to main frame base plate 23, as seen best with particular reference to FIGS. 4 and l3. That is, subassembly 25 includes subplate 52 having four spherical buttons 53 positioned in a row generally parallel to rear edge 54 of subplate 52. The spherical heads of buttons 53 project below the bottom surface of subplate 52 and rest on upper surface 24 of frame plate 23. Two horizontal pins 55 project from main frame upright portion 56 and are received by apertures in rear edge 54 of subplate 52 to establish the side-to-side position of the latter..Three adjusting screws 57, positioned in a row parallel to front edge 58 of subplate 52, extend vertical through subplate 52 and rest against frame surface 24. Thus, by rotating screws 57 the front of subplate 52 is raised and lowered and the entire subassembly 25 is tilted about thelocating line for support buttons 53. Locking bolts 59, extending rearward from front edge 58, clamp brass pills 99 against adjusting screws 57 to maintain the latter in their adjusted positions.

Two locking bolts 61 near front edge 58 extend through clearance apertures in subplate 52 and are replate 52 is further locked in adjusted position by invertedL-shaped clamps 62 (FIGS. 11 and 12) located near rear edge 54. An individual locking bolt 63 extends through a clearance aperture in each clamp 62 and is received by threaded aperture 64 in frame plate 23.

Paralleling of transfer roll 32 to applicator roll 33 is accomplished by loosening locking bolt 65 and locking nut 66. Then eccentric bushing 67 (FIG. 7) is pivoted by turning eccentric mechanism 68. This adjustment tilts support shaft 47, thereby tilting casting 46, causing metering roll shafts 48, 49 to tilt until shafts 49 and 42 are parallel. A similar tilting adjustment is provided to parallel shaft 48 with shaft 49. More particularly, to tilt shaft 48, eccentric bushing 71 (FIG. 8) is pivoted with respect to eccentric sleeve 76 that extends horizontally through a bore in support 46. Pivoting of bushing 71 is controlled by rotating hexagonal section 73 of eccentric 72 after loosening locking bolt 74 and locking nut 75.

The gap or pressure setting at applicator nip 38 is ac? complished by rotating handwheel 39 to turn shaft 41.

The latter mounts worm 77 that is in driving engagerotation of support member 81 and guide movement thereof as lead screw 79 is rotated. Thus, rotation of handwheel4l is effective to move applicator roll axis 42 toward and away from cam 16 being varnished. The total range of adjustment by operating handwheel 39 is approximately 3/16 inch. I-Iowever,'the total range of adjusting movement required for applicator roll 33 between each surface regrinding thereof is very small, being in the order of l/ 16 inch. This very limited movement at applicator nip 38 does not have any practical effect at nip 35, because the center-to-cen'ter distance between shafts 42 and 49 is so much greater than the adjustment, being in the order of 12 inches.

In the absence of a can at applicator nip 38, airoperated rotary device 84 is actuated automatically to pivot eccentric shaft 85 (FIGS. 5 and 8), coupled to support 81 through pivotally connected links 86, 87, to drop applicator roll 33 away from contact with the empty spindle 20. The end of link 87 remote from link 86 is mounted to fixed pivot 151. Link 87 is bifurcated and mounts therebetween holder 152 (FIG. 9) for bearing 150. Bearing holder 152 is mounted on jack shaft 79, being fixed against axial movement with 'respect thereto. Thus, by pivoting of link 87 about pivot 151 each timethrow-off device 84 is actuated to drop bearing holder 152 thereby moving jack shaft 79 down: ward, the latter pulls casting 81 with shaft 42 thereon downward and the periphery of applicator roll 33 moves away from coating relationship with respect to spindle 20.,

Turning of handwheel 44 rotates shaft 45 carrying worm gear 88 in engagement with worm wheel 89 keyed to the shaft of lead screw 91 (FIG. 8). The latter is threadably mounted to block 92 on radial extension 93 at the rear of eccentric sleeve 76. Thus, rotation of lead screw 91 is effective to pivot sleeve 76, thereby moving shaft 48 forcontrol roll 31 parallel .to shaft 49 to set the metering gap at nip 34.

Similarly, rotation of handwheel 36 causes rotation of shaft 37 to which worm gear 94 is keyed Worm 94 drives worm wheel 95 keyed to jacking or lead screw shaft 96. The threaded upper end of shaft 96 is in threaded engagement with block 97 mounted to a bi-' furcated section at the right of support 46, as viewed in FIG. 9. Thus, rotation of lead'screw 96 is effective to 104 is in mesh with gear 105 keyed to control roll shaft 48. it is noted that shaft 47 for support 46 is axially aligned with drive shaft 101, so that as support 46 is pivoted about shaft 47 to adjust nip 35, the meshing relationship between gear section 102 and gear 104 remains unchanged. Gear section 103 is in mesh with idler 107 that is in driving engagement with gear 108 that is keyed to applicator roll shaft 42. Idler 107 is mounted on stub shaft 161 that interconnects links 162, 163. The ends of links 162, 163 remote from shaft 161 are freely mounted on the respective shafts 42 and 47. Thus, during movement of shaft 42 to adjust applicator nip 38, the cooperation of links 162, 163 will maintain the proper relationship between the centers of gears 103, 107, and108.

Although in the foregoing preferred embodiments have been discussed, many variations and modifications will now become apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is therefore understood that this invention is not limited by the disclosure but only by the appending claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Apparatus for operating on cylindrical containers, said apparatus including a main frame, a coating station on said frame, and conveyor means on said frame including spindles for carrying cylindrical containers along a feed path extending through said coating station whereby containers moved along said feed path receive a filmlike coating at an applicator nip in said coatingstation, said coating station having a coating mechanism including adjacent control and transfer metering elements forming a metering nip therebetween to receive a coating substance and produce a controlled thickness film of this substance on said transfer element, a transfer roll constituting said transfer element, an applicator roll for applying a coating of this substance to decorated containers, said applicator roll positioned adjacent said transfer roll and forming a transfer nip therebetween whereat the applicator roll receives the film from the transfer roll, first support means to which the control element is mounted, second support means to which the transfer roll and said first support means are mounted, and third support means to which the applicator roll is mounted, said third support means being adjustably mounted with respect to a control roll constituting said control element, said control and transfer rolls having relatively rigid cylindrical surfaces and said applicator roll having a yieldable cylindrical surface.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 also including additional means for moving the transfer roll toadjust its cylindrical axis parallel to the cylindrical axis of the applicator roll, said second support being constructed so that with said cylindrical axes of said rolls parallel adjustment of said second support will bodily move the said main frame to adjust said applicator nip without transfer roll relative to the applicator roll without disturbing parallelism between said cylindrical axes of said rolls.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which the additional means comprises a single eccentric means.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which there is a control roll constituting the control element, further means for moving the control roll to adjust its cylindrical axis parallel to the cylindrical axis of the transfer roll, said first support being constructed so that with the cylindrical axes of the control and transfer rolls parallel the axes of these rolls will remain parallel during adjustment of said first support and the control roll will .6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which there is A a drive gear on said main frame through which driving power is delivered to the rolls of said coating station said second support being mounted on a support axis coaxial with the axis for said drive gear.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which there is a control roll constituting the control element, further means for moving the control roll to adjust its cylindrical axis parallel to the cylindrical axis of the transfer roll, said first support being constructed so that with the cylindrical axes of the control and transfer rolls parallel the axes of these rolls will remain parallel during adjustment of said first support and the control roll will move bodily relative to the transfer roll.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which the further means comprises a single eccentric means.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which there is a drive gear on said main frame through which driving power is delivered to the rolls of said coating station, said second support being mounted on a support axis coaxial with the axis for said drive gear. 

1. Apparatus for operating on cylindrical containers, said apparatus including a main frame, a coating station on said frame, and conveyor means on said frame including spindles for carrying cylindrical containers along a feed path extending through said coating station whereby containers moved along said feed path receive a filmlike coating at an applicator nip in said coating station, said coating station having a coating mechanism including adjacent control and transfer metering elements forming a metering nip therebetween to receive a coating substance and produce a controlled thickness film of this substance on said transfer element, a transfer roll constituting said transfer element, an applicator roll for applying a coating of this substance to decorated containers, said applicator roll positioned adjacent said transfer roll and forming a transfer nip therebetween whereat the applicator roll receives the film from the transfer roll, first support means to which the control element is mounted, second support means to which the transfer roll and said first support means are mounted, and third support means to which the applicator roll is mounted, said third support means being adjustably mounted with respect to said main frame to adjust said applicator nip without operatively disturbing the transfer or metering nips, said second support means being adjustably mounted with respect to said main frame to adjust said transfer nip without operatively disturbing the metering or applicator nips, said first support means being adjustably mounted to said second support to adjust said metering nip without operatively disturbing the transfer or applicator nips, said coating mechanism also including a sub-frame interposed between said main frame and said second and third supports, means mounting said second and third supports to said sub-frame, adjustable means removably securing said sub-frame rigidly to said main frame whereby said coating mechanism is removable and replaceable as a subassembly, said adjustable means being constructed for operation which tilts said sub-frame relative to said main frame to parallel the cylindrical axis of the applicator roll to the spindle axes.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which there is a control roll constituting said control element, said control and transfer rolls having relatively rigid cylindrical surfaces and said applicator roll having a yieldable cylindrical surface.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 also including additional means for moving the transfer roll to adjust its cylindrical axis parallel to the cylindrical axis of the applicator roll, said second support being constructed so that with said cylindrical axes of said rolls parallel adjustment of said second support will bodily move the transfer roll relative to the applicator roll without disturbing parallelism between said cylindrical axes of said rolls.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which the additional means comprises a single eccentric means.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which there is a control roll constituting the control element, further means for moving the control roll to adjust its cylindrical axis parallel to the cylindrical axis of the transfer roll, said first support being constructed so that with the cylindrical axes of the control and transfer rolls parallel the axes of these rolls will remain parallel during adjustment of said first support and the control roll will move bodily relative to the transfer roll, said further means comprising a single eccentric means.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which there is a drive gear on said main frame through which driving power is delivered to the rolls of said coating station said second support being mounted on a support axis coAxial with the axis for said drive gear.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which there is a control roll constituting the control element, further means for moving the control roll to adjust its cylindrical axis parallel to the cylindrical axis of the transfer roll, said first support being constructed so that with the cylindrical axes of the control and transfer rolls parallel the axes of these rolls will remain parallel during adjustment of said first support and the control roll will move bodily relative to the transfer roll.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which the further means comprises a single eccentric means.
 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which there is a drive gear on said main frame through which driving power is delivered to the rolls of said coating station, said second support being mounted on a support axis coaxial with the axis for said drive gear. 